On the road to graduation, Roosevelt University senior Cirrus Lingl is gearing up for the karate Olympic qualifiers — and the chance to earn a spot at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
The 22-year-old is competing to be one of just 10 karatekas in her weight class to compete in the Kumite discipline. This year will be the first time that karate is featured in the Summer Games.
Lingl is a bachelor’s in marketing student at Roosevelt’s Schaumburg Campus, not far from the club where she and her sister Skylar train.
“I’m able to balance my course work with my karate training by keeping myself organized,” she said. “I try my best to stay on top of my work or even ahead on my assignments.”
This summer, you won’t see karatekas breaking boards or flaming bricks à la Cobra Kai. In Kumite, or sparring, athletes compete in three-minute bouts and earn points for correctly executed punches, strikes and kicks. The winner has either a clear lead of eight points or the most points at the end of the fight.
Through the international competition, Lingl hopes to showcase what she loves about karate on a global stage.
“I hope viewers will see that karate is more than just what is portrayed in our culture and through TV shows and movies,” Lingl said. “It’s also different from other combat sports like judo, wrestling or tae kwon do, and I hope that the audience can see that while watching.”
A Day in the Life of a College Senior and Olympic Hopeful
- 9 a.m.: Roosevelt marketing classes over Zoom
- 11 a.m.: Karate or strength training session
- Afternoon: Homework
- Night: Training session No. 2 or teaching karate lessons
In 2019, Lingl earned a bronze medal at the Pan-American Games and a coveted spot on the USA National Team before the pandemic postponed the rest of the tournament season. With the support of her family, she pushed through to continue training and emerge stronger in 2021.
“Training at home was difficult at first, especially mentally,” she said. “I continually remind myself to control the things that I can. I can control my training and schoolwork and that has helped me maintain a more positive attitude.”
As she looks forward to graduation, the Olympic qualifiers and the Karate World Championships later this year, Lingl has relied on the discipline and respect she’s honed through competition.
“Discipline has been a huge factor in shaping who I am off the tatami and in every other aspect of my life,” she said. “I understand that good things come to those that work hard for them and that shows in my studies. I found the time to complete not just my degree, but to maintain good grades at the same time.”
Watch Lingl compete at the karate Olympic qualification tournament in Paris, June 11–13.
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